Table structure



April 1, 1930- w.- c. BUITEN 1,752,780

TABLE STRUCTURE Filed May 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1, 1930. w.-c.BUITEN 1,752,730

' TABLE STRUCTURE Filed Ma "'21, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 M V 320mgPatented Apr. 1, 1930 i NITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE i WILLIAM' C. BUITEN,OF LANSING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. 01E ONE-HALF TO PAUL. N.

DE WIT, OF LANSING, ILLINOIS, AND ONE-HALF T FRANK N. DE WIT TABLESTRUCTURE Application filed May 21, 1928. Serial No. 279,330.

This application is a continuation in part of my application filedJanuary 3, 1928, Serial No. 244,207, for improvement in wall furniture.Y

The object of this invention is to provide an improved foldable tableand bench structure which is capable of being compacted or collapsedwithin a relatively small space when not desiredfor use.

A'further object of the invention is to provide an improved table andbench structure which is especially designed for kitchenettes andthelike and which is capable of being folded and collapsed within a casingwhich maybe apart of the wall of a room so that when the structure iscollapsed it is completely concealed within the casing and occupies isto provide a structure of the class described, I

which is economical to build, which is easily installed, and which isespecially convenient and efl'ective for designed.

With these and other objects in view my 1nthe purposefor which it isvention consists in the construction, arrange ment and combination ofthe various parts of device, wherebythe objects contemplated areattained,as hereinafter more fully set-forth, pointed out in the claims,andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichz. f

Fig/1: is a perspective lview showingthe manner in which the elements ofthe device may be collapsed within a casing when not desired for-use. v

structure inextended position, as required for use. 7 l s Fig. 3 is across-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the dotted lines indicatingpositions assumed-by the parts when in folded condition. W r Fig. 4 is afront elevation partly in section,

illustrating the structure in extended position.

Fig. 5 is a plan View showing the device in partly extended position aswhen desired for use as a table only.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form in which thecasing is notbuilt into a wall, but is movable and is utilized forreceiving two units of the table and bench structure, whereby arelatively long table is provided.

Fig. 7 is a detail section 011 the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and illustratingparticularly, one of ghe benches employed in the modified strucure.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the built-in structure,illustratingparticularly, the method of folding the elements comprisingone of the benches.

Fig. 9 is a detail section on the line 9'9 of Fig. 2, illustrating thestop and latch for holding one of the wings relative to the table Fig.10 is a detail vertical section illustrating the method of hinging thetable top with in the casing. i

Fig. 11is a horizontal section through the casing, a portion beingbroken away to economize space, showing particularly, the method ofhinging the two wings within the casmg.

Fig. 12 is a detail of a special knob.

The preferred-embodiment of my invention involves a table top and a pairof benches, usable therewith'andv carried by the wings which support thetable top, the benches be ing folda-ble into the wings and the wingsbeing foldable into parallel planes within a casing, afterwhich thetable cover or top is foldable downwardly to provide'a door forthe'casing so'that all of the elements may be 1 I com letel inclosed a dt b d'l Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the. p y n ye 8 ma 1 y '10cessible for use. I This structure is designed particularly for use inkitchenettes and the like,'where the greatest economy must be observedas to room space, or in other situations where a table and bench areneeded only apart of the time. When so employed,'the casing may be builtinto a wall of the room in such manner that when the structural elementsare completely collapsed within the casing there are no parts projectingwithin the room.

My invention also involves the utilization of the same principles ofconstruction in a double unit which comprises a pair of table topmembers, each having a pair of wings for supporting it in horizontalposition and a cludes the built-in feature, a casing is employed whichcomprises a rear wall 12, a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, and spacedend walls 18. This casing may be of any desired height and length, butis relatively shallow and may be built into the wall 20 of a building soas to open to one side of said wall and into a room of the building.

At its open side, the casing preferably is provided with trimming orfacing, such as 22 to conform with the woodwork-0f the room.

If preferred, the casing may be in the na-' ture of a cabinet to containthe table and bench structure and the cabinet may be of any desired sizeand shape and finished in any desired manner.

A pair of wings are provided and are foldable within the casing. Eachofthe wings is of substantially U-shape and comprises a vertical endmember 24 having a horizontally projecting upper arm26 and ahorizontally projecting lower arm 28. The vertical member 24 of eachU-shapedwingis hinged to oneof the end walls 18 of the casing or cabinetby means of spring hinges 30.

One of the wings is hinged within the casing at a point nearer to therear wall 12 than is the other wing, in order that said wings may befolded within the casing in positions substantially parallel with eachother and with said rear wall as illustrated particularly in Fig. 11 andthe spring 30 of that wing which isnearer to the rear wall is soarranged as to tend to carry its wing toward folded position, while thespring 30 of the other wing is so arranged as to tend to carry its wingto extended position. The particular purpose of this arrangement is tocause the innermost or rearmost wing to move first, toward foldedposition, in order that thereqmay be no trouble about getting the wingsin their proper relative positions when the device is collapsed.

A brace 31, which'may be a metallic strap, preferably is mounted on theinner face of eacl1s of the wings, but extends lpartially across thevertical member 24 and particularly along the upper horizontal arm 26.

I have also provided a table top member designated by the numeral 32 andsaid member is hinged to the upper forward part of the casing by a hingemeans, shown particularly in Fig. 10. This hinging means includes aplate 34 countersunk in the edge of the table member 32 and carrying apintle pin 36 which projects laterally and is received within a plate 38countersunk in the adjacent face of one of the end walls 18 of thecasing. This permits the table top member 32 to be extended tohorizontal position outwardly from the upper part of the casing or to belowered to a vertical position in which it forms a door for the openside of the casing.

The table top 32 is supported in, horizontal or extended position bymoving the wings outwardly of the casing, as shown in Figs, 2 and 3, inwhich position the upper arms 26. of the wings engage beneath and nearthe side margins of the member 32,.

I consider it advisable to provide means for limiting the outwardswinging; movement of the wings and also for latching them to thetabletop 32 and for this purpose have provided angle bars 40. atopposite sides of the table member 32. Each Of the angle bars has one ofits arms fixed to the lower face of the table member 32 by means ofscrews 42 and. extending laterally thereof and have ing its other memberextending downwardly near the edge of the table to limit outwardmovement of one of the wings by engagement with the upper arm 26thereof. The, latching means may comprise a snap fastener includ-. ing asocket 44 carried by the downwardly projecting member of each angle bar40 and engageable by a spring stud 46 carried by the upper arm 26 ofeach wing, as shown particularly in. Fig. 9. i

v I have also shown the table top. member 32 as provided with a leaf 48hinged to its outer margin and adapted to form an extension thereof. Theleaf48 ishinged to the table top 32 by means of hinges 50 located on thelower faces of said members so that the leaf 48 may be dropped or befolded behind the member 32 at times.

The leaf 48 is "held in horizontal position by the outer ends of theupper arms 26. of the wings, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

I have also provided means whereby a bench may be carried by each of thewings and be arranged for convenient use at either end of the table whenthe device is extended position. a

Each of the benches comprises a seat member 52 and 'a pair of legmembers 54 and 56.

The leg members 54 and 56 of each bench are hinged to the lower side ofthe seat mem: ber 52 byhinges 58 and are foldable into the same planebeneath said seat member at times.

The seat member 52 of each bench is hinged to the lower arm 28 of one ofthe Wings by means of hinges and is foldable into a position between thelower and upper'arms of the wing at times. i

The folded position of one of the benches relative to the wing whichcarries it is shown particularly in Fig. 8 and in this view I have alsoshown a latch 62 for holding the seat member 52 in this folded position/It will be observed that when the bench is folded relative to the wingwhich carries it, the seat member 52 is in the same plane as the upperwing 26 and lower wing 28 and that the legs 54 and 56 are in a parallelplane and are folded flat against that face of the seat member which isthe lower face when the bench is extended for use.

Assuming the parts to be in fully extended position, as shown in Figs. 2and 3, they may be collapsed by raising the seat members 32 of thebenches until the latches 62 engage and hold the benches in the foldedposition. The legs 54 and 56 are then folded against the rear or outerfaces of the seat members. The wings are then released by manualpressure on their outer faces to disengage the spring studs 46 from thesockets 44, after which the wings are folded within the casing.v Thatwing'which is hinged nearer to the rear wall 12 of the casing is, ofcourse, folded in first, which action may be caused automatically by thespring 30 of its hinge. It will be observed that space is providedbetween the two wings for the legs of the bench carried by the'rearmostwing and that there is space between the outermost wing and the mouth ofthe casing for the legs of the bench whiclrare carried by that wing.

As soon as the wings are out of the way, the table j'member 32 may belowered to vertical position across the front of the casing, the leaf 48first being folded back behind said member 32.v To hold the tablemembers in closed position, I have shown a stud or lug 64 mounted on thelower or rear side of the member32'near its free margin and adapted toenter a spring catch member 66 carried by the bottom Wall 16 of thecasing.

The line of meeting of the leaf 48 with the table member 32 maybe anydesired formation, but I prefer to form it so as to produce one or morecurves, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, the result of which formationis to produce one or more notches 68 in the lower or outer margin of themember 32, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 1. These notches serve ashand-holds to facilitate the opening and raising of the member 32 andpermit the application of manual force to disengage the member 64 fromthecatch 66.

The numeral 70 designates stops which are fixed to and projectdownwardly from the inner faceof the upper arm 26 0f each wing to limitthe movement of the bench seats 52 toward collapsed position and toprevent un due strain on the hinges and latches of said seatsfi r I AChat 71 is fixed to the outer'face of-the' lower arm 28 of each wing andspans the space. between the hinged legs 54 and 56 of the bench. Onefunction of thecleat 71' is to engage the inner faces of the legs 54 and56 when they are extended and prevent their movement tofolded positionuntil such time folded within the casing, while the otherof said wingsmay be usedas a support for the table member 32 extending in an obliquedirection beneath it, as shown by dotted lines.

.In this position, the extension leaf 48 hangs in a vertical positionfrom thetable member 32. If it is desired to use the extension member 48as well as the top 32, both of the wings may be moved outwardly to theirlimit of'motion to support the members 32 and 48 and, of course, eitherone or both of the benches may then be unfolded and extended wheneverdesired for use. f

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention inwhich the easing is not intended to be built into a wall. but isseparately formed and is capable of being moved from place to place. Thecas-' ing of this form of the invention is designed to carry and to forma closure for two units of the table and bench structure, such as havebeen hereinbefore described. The casing, according to this form of theinvention, is open at both-sidesand it comprises a top wall .140 and endwalls '180.

internal braces,suchas 72, toistrengthen and support its member's.

In this form of the invention, the elements Y previously described areduplicated at .oppo-, site sides of the casing and are similar in formto those-hereinbefore described, except as specifically related herein.

The opposite sides of thecasing, which naturally is somewhat wider thanthe builtin casing heretofore described, are closable by thetwo tabletopmembers 32 and in this instance, I have shown these members 32 withoutthe extension leaves 48.

The casingmay be provided with suitable In Figs. 6 and 7, I haveindicated that there is a bench at each end of eachof the with a singleleg or, support designated by the numeral 540 and hinged to the outermargm of the seat member 520. In this construction it is desirable toprovide the bench sup,

port 540 with toggle braces 7 f to assist. in strengthening the benchstructure and to keep, the supports 54:0 .in normal vertical positionfor use. a

As shown in Fig. 6, the parts are so arranged that the table members 32when eX-. tended, occupy the same horizontal plane as the top Wall 140of the casing, whereby these three members form a continuous table top.In this construction, I have also shown the lower arm 280 of each wingextended downwardly at. its outer end as a leg 282-and having a, casterorroller 284 at the lower end. In Fig. 12 I have shown a disappearingknob for the table member 32, which may be employed if desired. Thisknob includes a stem 76 slidably mounted through the table member 32 andhaving a head 78 on its outer nd anda stop. 80 on its inner end. Thehead 78vis flat and when the table member 32 is raised, said head dropsinto a countersink hole 8 2 in the top. of said table member so that theupper surface is smooth and plain.

P WVhen the extension leaf 48 is. folded behind the table member 82 itengages the stop 80. and moves the knob device outwardlyto the positionshown in Fig. 12, so that the head 7 8 may be clasped manually for thepurpose of moving the table member to open position.

It is obvious that I have provided a table structure which is veryconvenient in. use, as well as economical to manufacture, particularlybecause of the peculiar relationand cooperation ofthe, various elementsof the structure. It will be noted that the structure; is low andcompact and thatitmaybe placed beneath a window. or othersimilarlocation where it will be out of the, Way and occupy very littlespace. Also, that the casing may. be arranged for attaching it to, awall instead of building it into. the Wall or having it portable.

, Some changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of theparts of the device without departing from the real spirit and purposeofmy invention, and it is my intention to, cover by the claims, anymodified forms of structure or-use of mechanical equivalents, whichmaybe reasonably in-.

cluded within their scope.

I claim. as. my invention:

comprisinga casing open at one side, a wing hinged-to one end wall ofsaid casing and toform a closure for the open sidethereof,

said wing'being movable out of said'oasing and beneath said tableinemberto support the latter in horizontal position, and a bench hinged.to said wing and adapted to be, extended to operative position adjacentone end of the. table member.

2.. A. structure of the characterdesoribed,

1. A structureof thecharacter described,

comprising a casing open at one side, a wing hinged to one end wall ofsaid casing and adapted to be folded therein, a table member hinged atthe top of said casing and adapted to form a closure for the open sidethereof, said wing being movable out of said casing and beneath saidtable member to support the latter in horizontal position, and a benchhinged to said wing and adapted to be extended to operative positionadjacent one end of the table member, said bench being provided with ahinged leg support adapted to be folded against the seat portionthereof.

3. A structure of the character described, comprising a casing open atone side, a wing hinged to. each end wall of said casing and adapted tobe folded therein, one wing in front of the other, a table member hingedat the top of said casing and adapted to form a closure for the openside thereof, said wings being movable out of said casing and beneathsaid table member to support the latter in horizontal position, a seatmember hinged on and adapted to be folded relative to each of saidwings, and means for supporting said seat members in operative positionat the respective ends of said table member.

4. A structure of the character described, comprising a casing open atone side, a U- shaped wing hinged to one end wall of said casing andadapted to be folded therein, a table member hinged at the top of saidcasing and adapted to form a closure for the open side thereof, saidwing being movable out of said casing and beneath said table member,whereby the upper arm of said wing constitutes a support for said tablemember, a seat hinged. to the lower arm of said wing, and foldable meansfor supporting said seat in operative position. a

.5. A structure of the character described, comprising a casing open atone side, a U- shaped wing hinged to one end wall of said 'casing andadapted to be folded therein, a

table member hinged at the top of said casopen side thereof, said wingbeing movable out of .said casing and beneath said table member, wherebythe upper arm of said wing constitutes a support for said table member,a seat hinged tothe lower arm of said wing, said seat being shaped tofitwithin and to substantially fill and being foldable into the spacebetween the upper and lower arms of said U-shaped wing, and a supportingmember hinged to said seat and adapted to hold it in operative positionat times. I a

6. A structure of the'character described, comprising a support, a winghaving spaced horizontal arms, said wing being hinged to said support ona vertical'axis, a table member hinged to said support on a horizontalaxis, said wing being arrangedto be extended beneath said table memberwith itsupper arm in supporting relation thereto, and a seat car ried bythe lower arm of said wing.

7. A structure of the character described,

'comprising a casing open at both sides, a

table member hinged at the top on each side of said casing and adaptedto close one side thereof and also adapted to be extended to horizontalposition, supporting means hinged in said casing and adapted to beextended from each open side thereof to support the extended tablemembers in extended position, and seat members carried by saidsupporting means and adapted to be folded therewith within'said casing.

8. A structure of the character described, comprising a casing open atboth sides, a table member hinged at the top on each side of saidcasingand adapted to close one side thereof and also adapted to beextended to horizontal position, supporting means hinged in said casingand adapted'to be extended from each open side thereof to support theextended table members in extended position, and seat members hinged toeach of said supporting means and adapted to be folded into verticalpositions, whereby the supporting means and seat members may be foldedwithin the easing and concealed by dropping said table members over theopen sides thereof, together 1gvith leg members hinged to said seatmemers. V

Des Moines, Iowa, May 9, 1928.

WILLIAM G. BUITEN.

